Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The first randomized trial of human polymerized hemoglobin as a blood substitute in acute trauma and emergent surgery.
Human polymerized hemoglobin (PolyHeme) is a universally compatible, disease-free, oxygen-carrying resuscitative fluid. This is the first prospective, randomized trial to compare directly the therapeutic benefit of PolyHeme with that of allogeneic red blood cells (RBCs) in the treatment of acute blood loss. ⋯ PolyHeme is safe in acute blood loss, maintains total [Hb] in lieu of red cells despite the marked fall in RBC [Hb], and reduces the use of allogeneic blood. PolyHeme appears to be a clinically useful blood substitute.